LocationsBy Christophe Bahuet, UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines; Moeko Saito-Jensen, Project Manager, EU-PH Green Economy Partnership: Green LGUs; and Leah Anadon-Payud, LGU and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, EU-PH Green Economy Partnership: Green LGUs
Circular Economy is Our Way of Life: How Ormoc Has Led the Inclusive Circular Economy Transition
June 1, 2026
Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez delivering her welcome address during the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership team visit to Ormoc City.
“Circular economy is our way of life — taking care of our Mother Earth and our people. Circular economy and environmental stewardship have always been at the core of our development in Ormoc City.”
These words from Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez reflect how Ormoc City sees the circular economy as going beyond an environmental agenda, but rather as a pathway toward a green, inclusive, and resilient future.
From 17 to 19 May 2026, together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the European Union (EU), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), we had the opportunity to visit and witness circular economy initiatives in Ormoc.
Ormoc is one of the partner cities under the EU-Philippines Green Economy Programme: Green LGUs, working alongside local governments and stakeholders to promote a circular economy.
What makes Ormoc remarkable is the city’s vision of how a circular economy can be woven into everyday life — creating opportunities, fostering economic development, restoring dignity, and protecting the environment at the same time.
Lilian M. De Leon, Assistant Secretary for International Relations, DILG; Dr. Marco Gemmer, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to the Philippines; and Christophe Bahuet, UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines, unveiled Estero Walk and Repair Hub marker.
In August 2024, this vision came alive during the local inception workshop with Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, the city government, and stakeholders. Ormoc highlighted a bold ambition: to move beyond waste management and embrace a city-wide transformation where circular economy principles shape development, livelihoods, and community well-being.
Since then, we have witnessed how the city’s vision has blossomed into many initiatives.
Ormoc developed a Circular Economy Resolution and integrated circular economy measures into the city development plan and annual investment plan, positioning the circular economy as central to its long-term development pathway.
Recognizing that behavior change is essential, the city also fostered partnerships with academic institutions, youth groups, media, influencers, and civil society organizations (CSOs). Educational materials and awareness campaigns were developed to empower citizens — particularly young people — to become advocates for the circular economy and sustainable lifestyles within their communities.
At both the city and barangay levels, Ormoc enhanced its Material Recovery System (MRS) to support waste reduction, repair, segregation, and recovery. These efforts also fostered community-led circular economy initiatives by strengthening local leadership and reinforcing related programs, such as the Barangay Idol on Environmental Development Action and Material Recovery System (BIDA-MRS). For example, Barangay Alegria upgraded its MRS to improve waste segregation and resource recovery, demonstrating how local action can directly contribute to cleaner and more resilient communities.
One of the most inspiring developments has been the growing recognition of informal sector workers. For years, many of these individuals quietly contributed to environmental protection without formal recognition. Today, their role is acknowledged as essential to the circular economy transition through CSO accreditation and the provision of decent and safe workspaces. Repair workers who restore shoes, watches, and bags help extend product life and reduce waste, while informal recyclers recover valuable resources that would otherwise end up in landfills. By supporting and recognizing these workers, Ormoc is doing more than improving waste systems — it is restoring dignity to labor that has long been overlooked.
The Ormoc City Repair Express Service Cooperative supported by the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership.
At the same time, Ormoc recognizes that scaling circular economy solutions requires strong private sector partnerships and investments. The city has actively engaged the private sector to explore innovative business models for waste recovery, recycling systems, repair enterprises, and green livelihoods. Moving forward, Ormoc seeks to further mobilize sustainable investments that can scale circular economy impacts. The city has also amended its investment priority areas to include circular economy-related projects, including large-scale biocomposting and robotics in waste management.
The city’s circular economy journey also reflects the importance of aligning local action with broader national and global priorities. By integrating circular economy measures into development planning and investment programming, Ormoc is creating an enabling environment for long-term sustainable investments that support resilient and low-carbon urban development.
Inauguration of the Organic Boost (BIBO) Facility supported by the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership.
Ormoc’s experience reminds us that the circular economy is not only about managing waste differently. It is about rethinking how all actors produce, consume, repair, recover, and regenerate resources. It is about creating systems where economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion can move forward together.
In many ways, Ormoc offers a hopeful example for other cities. It shows that sustainability is strongest when it is rooted in local leadership, participation of all actors, and collective responsibility. It demonstrates that environmental action can also create livelihoods and economic opportunities, strengthen communities, and restore dignity to often overlooked sectors.
Most importantly, Ormoc proves that meaningful transformation happens when people come together with a shared vision for a greener and more inclusive future — one where no one is left behind.
♻️ The #EUPHGreenEconomyPartnership is funded by the European Union in the Philippines as part of the EU’s #GlobalGateway initiative and spearheaded by Department of Environment and Natural Resources to support a green, just, and sustainable future.
🌏 Co-led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and implemented by UNDP, its Specific Objective 2 (SO2) #GreenLGUs empowers local governments and communities to lead inclusive circular economy transitions—reducing plastic and organic waste, creating green jobs, and building climate resilient local systems rooted in sustainability. 🌱
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